Matt Hasselbeck to Head Back to the Bench When Luck is Ready

Despite the success that backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has had, Colts coach Chuck Pagano made it clear there will be no hesitation to put franchise quarterback Andrew Luck in the lineup once he’s clear to play, Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star reports.

“I’m not even going to go there,” the Colts coach said. “That’s ludicrous.”

When the question was posed once again, prefaced with a statement about the notion being discussed on local and national talk shows, Pagano added, “You have to stay off Twitter. Get your blinders and your earmuffs on. … Andrew is our starting quarterback. When he’s 100 percent healthy, and our doctors and our trainers say he’s ready to roll, then he’s going to be under center.”

Pagano clearly was miffed that the question was asked, but the topic has been widely discussed on the Internet and by some in sports media. But Pagano’s reaction Monday should put to rest any question that the Colts would entertain anything other than immediately reinserting Luck into the starting lineup.

It seems to not matter than Hasselbeck is 4-0 as a starter this season, 2-0 since Luck went down with a lacerated kidney earlier this month. The fact that Luck has struggled for most of the six games also has played a role in the questions being raised.